New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy Background and Purpose for the Workshop Presented by: Konnie Wescott and Heidi Hartmann Argonne National Laboratory New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy Workshop Las Cruces, NM May 3, 2016 New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy Presentation Outline • Background: – What is utility-scale solar development? – Extent and scale of BLM solar project approvals – BLM’s Solar Energy Program • Workshop Purpose: Discuss Regional Compensatory Mitigation – What is regional compensatory mitigation? – Why is stakeholder involvement critical? • Sources of Information New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 2 What is utility-scale solar development? . Large solar fields – 20+ megawatt (MW); requires from 5-10 acres per MW . Three main technologies – 1) photovoltaic (PV), 2) parabolic trough, and 3) power tower Desert Sunlight Solar Farm (PV) • 550-MW project on 4,165 acres of public land • 6.5 square miles of single land use New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 3 What is utility-scale solar development? (cont.) 250 MW Genesis Parabolic Trough Facility New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 4 What is utility-scale solar development? (cont.) Ivanpah Solar Energy Generation Station (SEGS) • 3 Concentrating Solar Power Towers (370 MW) • $2.8B project on 3,472 acres (5.5 mi2) of public land New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 5 Background: Extent/Scale of Solar Project Approvals • Since 2009 BLM has approved 40 projects (some subsequently terminated by developers) – 32 Photovoltaic (PV) Projects (8,433MWs) – 4 Power Tower Projects (730 MWs) – 3 Parabolic Trough Projects (964 MWs) – 1 Solar Dish Engine Project (terminated) New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 6 Background: BLM’s Solar Energy Program In 2012, BLM and DOE completed a Solar Development PEIS and ROD: • Six States: AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV, and UT • Identified 17 Solar Energy Zones • Identified 19M Acres of Variance Lands • Amended 89 BLM Land Use Plans • Established Standard Design Features / Development Requirements • Strengthened BLM Policy, Procedures and Enhanced the Program Implementation • Identified a planning process to address impacts not addressed by Design Features (avoidance and minimization measures) Post ROD BLM: • Initiated BLM Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy starting in NV (Dry Lake SEZ) • Recently completed strategies in AZ and NV • Ongoing in CO and starting in UT and NM New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 7 Background: BLM’s Solar Energy Program (cont’d) For BLM New Mexico public lands the Solar PEIS and ROD established: 4.2 M acres of solar variance lands • 1.4 M acres within the Las Cruces District Office 2 Afton SEZ: 29,964 acres (121 km ) New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 8 What is Regional Compensatory Mitigation? • A landscape-level approach for addressing residual/unavoidable impacts • Commitment made in BLM’s Solar Energy Program • Workshop is first step in the development of a regional mitigation strategy for the Afton Solar Energy Zone – Collaborative effort with stakeholders • Purpose of this workshop: – identify residual impacts of solar development in the SEZ – walk stakeholders through next steps in the process for determining if compensatory mitigation is warranted New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 9 What is a Regional Compensatory Mitigation Strategy? • It is a RECOMMENDATION that will inform future project- specific NEPA analysis • To the extent possible, impacts will be AVOIDED and/or MINIMIZED ONSITE New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 10 BLM Mitigation Hierarchy: Focusing our Discussion Avoid Impacts Establishment of SEZs (Solar PEIS) Also, non-development areas within a SEZ (e.g., sensitive habitat, FEMA floodplains) Minimize Impacts Design Features (Solar PEIS) Offset Residual Regional Mitigation Strategy Impacts New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 11 Why is Stakeholder Involvement Critical? • Our aim is to reach multiple stakeholders – Federal and state agencies – County government – Local public – Conservation organizations – Tribes – Solar industry – Public land users Photos from Nevada Dry Lake SEZ SRMS Pilot – Others • BLM- Argonne Team goal is to share, listen, learn, and apply New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 12 Useful Websites BLM Solar Program Website: http://blmsolar.anl.gov Solar Mapper: http://solarmapper.anl.gov New Mexico SEZ SRMS Project Website: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/energy/alternativ es/afton_sez.html New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 13 BLM Solar Program Website: http://blmsolar. anl.gov Online resource sharing information about BLM’s program implementation New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 14 Menus for each major page direct you to relevant information. New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 15 There is a page dedicated to each state with a subpage for each SEZ. News items are posted to share updates New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 16 • For each SEZ, a webpage provides: – Development status – Size and location – Physical characteristics – Technical suitability • Maps • Links to relevant sections in Solar PEIS • Subpages dedicated to – Minerals report – Monitoring and adaptive management strategies New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 17 Subscribe for email updates either for just general program information or also for state-specific updates. New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 18 Solar Energy Environmental Mapper: – An Interactive, Web-Based Tool Providing Access to Spatial Data Relevant to BLM’s Solar Energy Program Available at http://solarmapper.anl.gov • Siting information on utility-scale solar projects in six southwestern states. New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 19 Data Layers Include Surface Management, Protected Resources, and Program Designations (for example, variance areas and solar exclusions BLM Solar Program Designations and Surface Management New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 20 Metadata and summary information are available for each data layer. New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 21 QUESTIONS? New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 22 Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy Process Presented by: Bill Werner, BLM Arizona State Office New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy Workshop Las Cruces, NM May 3, 2016 New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy Progression of Mitigation for Solar Energy Zone Development • Solar Programmatic EIS ROD – Established Solar Energy Zones (SEZs) and Variance Areas – Identified impact Avoidance and Minimization Measures (Design Features) – Identified a process to address impacts not addressed by Avoidance and minimization measures • Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy (by Solar Energy Zone) – planning process to address impacts not addressed by Avoidance and Minimization measures • Pre -Auction National Environmental Policy Act Analysis – Decision on per acre fee – Decision on parcels to be auctioned • Project Level National Environmental Policy Act Analysis (after BLM receives and application) – Identifies impacts of project based on project specific facts – Applies Design Features – Identifies actions and sites for compensation of residual impacts – Authorizes project New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 24 SRMS Process • Element 1: Identify residual adverse impacts • Element 2: Identify residual adverse impacts warranting compensatory mitigation • Element 3: Identify regional mitigation goals • Element 4: Recommend compensatory mitigation amount • Element 5: Recommend management strategy for compensatory mitigation funds • Element 6: Recommend potential compensatory mitigation actions and locations • Element 7: Recommend regional effectiveness monitoring and adaptive management New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 25 Element 1: What are the potential residual impacts on the Afton SEZ? Examples Include: Yes Maybe • Vegetation • Xero-Riparian Areas • Terrestrial • Invasive/Noxious Wildlife/Aquatic Biota Weeds • Special Status Plant • Migratory Birds Species • Special Status Animal Species • Tribal Concerns • Specially Designated • Soils/Erosion Areas • Visual Resources • Livestock grazing New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy Element 2: What are the potential residual impacts that warrant regional compensatory mitigation? Summer 2016 stakeholder webinar to review and discuss residual impacts that may warrant regional compensatory mitigation Examples could include: • Loss of Special Status Species Habitat • Loss of Ecosystem Services (from loss of vegetation, wildlife, etc.) New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy Element 3: Mitigation Goals • Summer 2016 stakeholder webinar to discuss regional mitigation goals • Review of regional goals considered in resource management planning efforts • Review of regional goals in other relevant planning documents in the area New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 28 Element 5: Identify & Recommend a Management Structure to Hold & Apply Mitigation Funds BLM will select management options consistent with: • the BLM’s interim regional mitigation policy, draft Manual Section 1794, issued June 13, 2013 and • DOI’s Departmental Manual Part 600 DM 6 Landscape-Scale Mitigation Policy (DOI 2015), issued October 23, 2015. New Mexico Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy 30 Element 6: Evaluate & Recommend Appropriate Mitigation Actions and Locations • Summer 2016 webinar to request stakeholder recommendations for actions and/or